Taking to his interactive X page on Monday, Sonko claimed criminal gangs were now roaming the streets openly, armed with dangerous weapons.
“Cases of thugs using crude weapons like knives, machetes, and real and toy guns to steal from unsuspecting members of the public within the CBD have become rampant. Their main target is women,” Sonko stated.
An image of goons who had infiltrated protests in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) in the company of police officers on Tuesday, June 17, 2025
“I had not looked behind me; I was being followed. I was so shaken; I went to a loading bay and requested an Uber. I informed the Uber driver that I was being followed by some suspicious people and that I needed to pick up dinner before going. The Uber driver told me it has been happening for quite some time,” the woman recounted in her video.
Her ordeal has since fueled public outrage, with many Kenyans demanding swift action from the police.
The brazen attack further raised questions about the safety of traders and pedestrians within the busy capital.
Police Response to Security Concerns
In response, the NPS downplayed fears of widespread insecurity.
According to spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, the Nanak House incident was not linked to rising crime but to a private business feud.
Protestors gathering in the Nairobi CBD on Monday, December 30 2024.
“Following a careful analysis of the incident that took place on Friday, 22nd August 2025, at Nanak House, detectives have ascertained certain facts. These point to a deliberate attack on four businesses within the said building, which appears to be linked to an internal dispute of a civil nature, a matter that is already before the court,” NPS stated.
However, Sonko and many residents remain unconvinced. The former governor stressed that street-level attacks, whether isolated or not, must be addressed urgently.
